10 Mellow Dog Breeds

Getting a dog is like any other important addition to your home. If you take the time to research the product, you'll end up with something that best suits your needs. If your lifestyle requires that you have a mellow pet, there are several breeds out there that may work for you.

In the toy dog category, there are a few breeds that are usually calm. The Maltese, Pomeranian, and Yorkshire Terrier are all good choices of mellow dogs as they all require minimal exercise and are generally non biting. All three of these dog breeds normally stay under 12 lbs. making them a good choice for limited space. I used to own a Pomeranian mix and while she could get riled up if provoked, she was an excellent lap dog and was happiest laying quietly and cuddling. The Maltese and Terrier are described as being content lounging around. (petplace.com)

Some good small to mid sized mellow dog breeds are the Cocker Spaniel, the French Bull-dog, and the Shih tzu. In fact, the Shih tzu was bred to be a pet and they are a gentle and very playful breed. The French Bull-dog is not a big barker and Cocker Spaniels are just down right lovable. (petplace.com)

For mid to bigger quite dog breed choices there are the English Bull-dog who is not big on exercise, the Chinese Shar-pei which is cat-like and standoffish, and the Labrador Retriever who is kindly and non-aggressive. All three of these dog breeds would be good if you have a little more space, but would still like a quieter dog. (.petplace.com)

My number one pick for a mellow and calm dog breed is the Basset Hound. The Basset is a mid to large sized dog and is known for its sweet and gentle nature. (akc.org) I used to have three Basset Hounds and loved them very much. They do enjoy to hunt, but are also very happy laying around and being pet. Basset Hounds love attention. If I ever get a chance to own another dog, I would love to get another Basset.

If there are other factors you need to look for in your pet's personality other than "mellow" or "calm", there are lots of dog selector tools on the Internet you can use. I used www.selectsmart.com for help with this article. The dog selector tool from that site lets you choose from all sorts of factors like coat length, size, etc.

Please also keep in mind as you choose a mellow dog, there are tons out there in shelters that need homes. If you can't find a pure breed, you can often still find a mixed breed that would fit the profile you are looking for.

Sources

Top Dog Breeds for Seniors, Petplace.com

www.selectsmart.com

AKC Meet the Breeds: Basset Hound, akc.org